Improvement in hitching devices



W. S. CRAINE & C. D. GAYLORD.

HITCH'I'NG DEVICE'.

Patented July 25,1876.

N.FEIERS. PHOTO LITHOGRAPHER WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT QEEroE.

WILLAM S. CRAINE AND CHARLES D. GAYLORD,VOF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

I :MPRovEMi-:NT IN li-nTci-nkle Devices.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 80,327, dated July 25, 1876; application filed l May 16, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM S. CHAINE and CHARLES D. GAYLORD, of Cleveland, in thecounty of Cuyahoga and State of Chio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hitching Device for Hitehing Horses 5 and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will ena-ble others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and' use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of 'this specification.

Our invention relates to a bitching device for hitching horses, and is adapted either for attachment to a post or to the pavement, or as a portable bitching-weight.

Our invention consists in a box or case inclosing a shaft, upon which the halter-strap is wound, which shaft is also provided with a spring and a pawl and ratchet, so that the halter will draw out against the tension of the spring, but is prevented from either drawing out or returning by the pawl and ratchet, eX- cept at the will of the operator.

In the drawing, Figure l is a longitudinal central section of the device adapted as a bitching-weight. Fig. 2 show s a View, in elevation, Vof the device attached to a bitchingpost; Fig.A 3, the same as attached to the pavement. Fig. et represents an inside View, representing the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism.

A is a frame, having two cheek-pieces, B, through whichpasses the shaft C. Upon this shaft is coiled the halter-strap D.

To one end of the shaft C is a coiled spring, E, attached at one end to the frame A, and at the other end to the shaft C. This spring is coiled around the shaft in a direction that its tension shall operate against the halterstrap as it is drawn out. At the other end of the shaft C is a ratchet, F, and a pawl, G. This ratchet F is so formed with notches j' that when the detent g of the pawl G drops into any notch j' the ratchet is prevented from turning in either direction until the pawl is released.

The pawl G is pivoted at G1, and an arm, G2, projects beyond the pivotal point, and a stud or pin, G3, which may or may not be adjustable, rises therefrom and passes out of the shell or case H, so that the operator may at any time release the pawl from any notch f by simply pressing with his hand or foot upon the stud or pin G3.

H is the case, of any suitable construction, which fits down overt-he mechanism, and protects it from the weather and keeps its parts in place.

The frame A, when secured to the case H, houses all the mechanism within the said case. If this device is intended, as in Fig. l, to be used as a portable hitching-weight, then the case H and the frame-work is made sufl ciently heavy to serve the purpose of a ing-post or to the pavement, as in Figs. Zand 3, then it is evident that the case H and the frame A need be made only of sufficient weight to give'the requisite strength and security to the parts.

We do not limit ourselves to any particular form of frame A, nor do we limit ourselves absolutely to the employment of such separate plate or frame A, as the mechanism may be seatedv directly in the case H, instead of being attached to the separate frame A. Nor do we limit ourselves to the particular construction of any of the parts here set forth. Thus the spring and pawl and ratchet may all be at the same end of the shaft, or may be arranged in any suitable manner, the essential features of our invention being the `adaptation of the mechanism to a portable bitching-weight; also, the pawl-and-ratohet mechanism, whereby the halter-strap can only be lengthened or shortened at the will of the operator. So, also,it is obvious that instead of the pawl and ratchet we may dispense with them entirely, and, instead thereof, employ any suit` able means whereby to hold the halter-strap secure against motion in either direction, eX- cept at the will of the operator-as, for instance, any suitable form of friction-clamps, the particular means for/that purpose not being essential to our invention, as we do not know that it has ever before been done, and may be done by a variety of means, that in the drawings answering every purpose.

What we claim is- The combination, with the portable hitchnames to this specification in the presence of ing-Weight, consisting of Weight or case H, two subscribing Witnesses. having inclosed within it the shaft C, halter, T and spring, of the ratchet F and pawl Gr, the said pawl constructed to be governablo att the will of the operator, substantially is de- Witnesses:

FRANCIS TOUMEY,

scribed.

In testimony whereof We. have signed our EDWARD J. WALSH. 

